It was more than just youth and burgeoning star power that pried veteran forward Patrick Marleau away from San Jose after 19 NHL seasons.

He knew the Maple Leafs had something else to offer, in addition to a lucrative new deal.

“I know Toronto is on the cutting edge with their sports science division and what they do for their players,” Marleau told TSN 1050 earlier this month. “They’re on top of it. They’re on top of the nutrition. They’re on the top pushing players when they need to be pushed. I think that’s going to benefit me.”

Marleau will turn 38 when he reports to training camp in September. He scored 27 goals last season, a number that would have put him fourth on the Leafs last season behind Auston Matthews (40), Nazem Kadri (32) and James van Riemsdyk (29). He also spent close to two decades in a city where tech innovation drives the economy, so it’s not surprising to hear that some of the hard work and efficiency of Silicon Valley...